NORTHAMPTON — Pushing back the high school start time of 7:30 a.m. has been a topic of discussion on the School Committee for years. On Thursday, the School Committee is scheduled to talk about and potentially vote on new start times once more.
The committee is considering two proposals. In both, elementary students would start earlier than they currently do, and middle and high school students would start later. The new start times would be implemented, at the earliest, next school year, according to school officials.
“Research has shown that secondary schools that have shifted to later start times have had positive impacts on student achievement by increasing attendance rates, decreasing disciplinary action, decreasing sleeping during instruction and more,” according to information about the potential changes posted on the school district’s website reads. “And, for elementary school-aged students, research has shown that younger children learn better in the morning.”
Currently, elementary schools in the city start at 8:50 a.m., the middle school at 7:55 a.m., and the high school at 7:30 a.m.
The committee’s first proposal would make the middle school start at 8:30 a.m. and the high school at 9 a.m. The second proposal would change the middle school start time to 9 a.m. and the high school start time to 8:30 a.m. In both proposals, elementary school students would start at 8 a.m.
The committee decided to take a look at the issue before the pandemic, said Lonnie Kaufman, the committee’s vice-chairman and spokesperson.
“It’s been brought up for many years,” he said of changing the start time, “probably at least ten.”
The proposed changes would not cost the district additional money, he said, and the committee wants to make sure there is ample notice for families, which is why any change wouldn’t start until next school year, he said. “It’s a disruption to families’ lives — no doubt about that,” Kaufman said of changing the start times.
But, he added, “For a School Committee to focus on the best interest of students’ academic and personal growth, there are few times we have the opportunity to do this.”
Thursday night’s School Committee meeting begins at 6:45 p.m. It can be joined via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/94006585130, and more information can be found on the city’s website. The district is also collecting feedback on school start time in a survey posted on its website.
Greta Jochem can be reached at gjochem@gazettenet.com.